Karate Quest Kicks Off Birch Bay Square’s Block Party

This was a great event with a lot of public excitement.  What a great community we live in.  Birch Bay Square is the newly remodeled outlet mall just off I-5 at Birch Bay Lynden Road.

The performers had fun too!  Thank you to all the school members that came to see the show as well.  Let us know what you thought in the comments below.

HAVE A GREAT MEMORIAL DAY!!!!!

Training at Karate Quest

I came to the realization that training at Karate Quest is not for everyone.  I have seen individuals come into the school and see my badge on my desk and a commendation on my wall and turn uneasy.  It is not as if a criminal background check is required to enter the school.

This became more apparent as I fielded a telephone call where Karate Quest was found through the Action Yellow Pages.  In building rapport with the caller in an effort to understand how I could serve him I learned some of what his intended goals were, such as what brought he and his family to the area, what previous training they had and what their goals were, such as the self-defense and not the competition side of the arts.

As I began to speak regarding the benefits of the training at Karate Quest I discussed how my previous law enforcement experience made me appreciate the Self-Defense side of what we teach.  The caller quickley said something unintelligible and hung up.

I made efforts to reinitiate contact, but realized that this caller, like those folks that have come through the door and left, may have felt uncomfortable with the law enforcement ties.

Now, why would I write about this?  Because training at Karate Quest may not be for everyone.  Karate Quest is a training studio that seeks to be inclusive of good people and great families.  We train hard, get fit, have a lot of fun and learn valuable life-saving skills.

As Mr. Pat Armijo said, “We don’t need everyone.  We just need the right people.”

We invite good people and great families to come in and check out what we do at the school.  I think you will be pleased with what you see and who you see training.

Eli Jolly – 1st Place Winner in Weapons, Battle at the Rock

Eli did a great job at this event.  The result of focus and dedication that is achievable for those that will invest in themselves.

Pacific Jewel Nationals Grand Championships – Adam Jolly

This was a great event.  Adam was competing in the Black Belt Weapons Division and of course it is obvious that he was using the sword.

Karate Quest Hosting Vic LeRoux in Seminar April 18th, 2009

Vic LeRoux has 43 years of history in the art of Chinese Kenpo Karate alone.  Additionally he has studied Judo, Jeet Kune Do and Kali with Danny Innosanto and others.  Through Mr. LeRoux’s passion for the Martial Arts he has validated all of the techniques and principles that are taught in Chinese Kenpo Karate today.  Mr. Leroux is the Co-Founder of the International Karate Connection Association (IKCA) together Senior Grand Master Mr. Chuck Sullivan, Mr. Edmond K. Parkers 4th Black Belt in the United States.  Mr. LeRoux has studied directly from Mr. Sullivan and was a private student of Mr. Parker.  In short he is living history of how the Martial Arts have evolved in the United States.

Mr. LeRoux will start off the seminar covering the basics of Self-Defense and progress to Blending, Borrowing, Combining and Take-Downs.  This training is sure to elevate the skills and effectiveness of all who attend regardless of skill level.

Assisting in the Seminar will be Doug Meeks, 8th Degree Black Belt, and Lance Meltzer, 5th Degree Black Belt, both of Napa Valley Martial Arts.  They offer advanced knowledge in Chinese Kenpo Karate, Jeet Kune Do as well as back grounds in the Isreali Fighting Methods of Hagganah and Krav Maga.

Mr. Pat Armijo, 6th Degree Black Belt in Modern Arnis, will teach Stick and Knife Defense and Tactics.  Mr. Armijo also brings a strong Kenpo background amongst other arts.  He is a direct student of Remy Presas and serves as Mr. Presas’ Washington State Director for Modern Arnis and a U.S. Board of Directors Member for the World Escrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF), which is the governing body for the contact sport side of the Filipino Martial Arts.  Mr. Armijo is a frequent presenter at Martial Arts Seminars both Nationally and Internationally.

Mick Jolly, 3rd Degree Black Belt in Chinese Kenpo Karate and former Law Enforcement Officer, will teach a special segment on Firearms.  This training will focus on how to retain a firearm and avoiding the disarming tactics of the criminal world.  Mick Jolly has served as a Sheriff’s Deputy, Detective, Civil Deputy and ultimately as a Special Agent for the U.S. Secret Service.  Mick has served in special capacities regarding Defensive/Control Tactics as well as a Physical Training Coordinator.  This training segment is essential for anyone who has considered carrying or currently carries a firearm.

This will be a seminar that the serious martial artist will not want to miss regardless of style or system or skill level.  This event will elevate your training to a level with segments covering empty hand and weapons defenses at the highest level.  All are welcome to attend this great event.

Please contact Mick Jolly at 360-312-4110 for details.

Teaching Self-Defense at WWU

Back in early 2003 I had a few minutes of free time and went by the Physical Education Health and Recreation (PEHR) Department at Western Washington University (WWU) to check out what they offered in terms of Martial Arts classes.  This interested me greatly due to my personal history with the Martial Arts.  You see, although I had been associated with the Martial Arts from an early age (7 years old) with some of the basics that my father shared from the perspective of a Marine Corp Veteran and spent many years training in traditional and non traditional arts my first start to finish teaching occurred when I was in University myself.  I was charged with teaching a PE Sports Karate Class and taking individuals from complete novice to a basic proficiency during the term.  Of course with the perspective of my family the Self-Defense was a greater emphasis than the sport aspects and this empowered many of the students, good people who had not been in fights, with a greater understanding of how to manage conflict.

Post university with degree in hand I found myself drawn into the law enforcement community where the physical skill I had developed were a valuable asset for myself as a Deputy, Detective and later as a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent.  I also enjoyed numerous opportunities as a Defensive Tactics Instructor to share those skill with others in the law enforcement community and that tradition continues today.

Now back to the University.  When I stopped into WWU to check out what they had I learned that they had introductory classes for Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, etc.   However the program director advised me that they wanted a class that addressed the topic of Self-Defense directly.  Having conducted many Citizen Self-Defense Academies in the past I offered to outline a program to cover the basics, but I would not be able to teach the program due to my commitment at that time with Uncle Sam and the Secret Service.  There was just know way to insure that I would be in the area the next day or even that night.  Little lone the next week.  However, the outline of the basics I could commit to do and I did.

Of course those basic involve many things from environmental awareness, victimology and how to avoid looking like the prey for the predators out there to verbal control and descalation of an incident with posture and demeanor to the “Fight or Flight” syndrome and gross motors skills to natural weapons and multiple attackers and what to do immediately before during and after an incident has occurred.  Throw in some classic situational training along with many other cool things to numerous to mention in this blog and you have the recipe for a  great class geared for that group of people who may not have all the street smarts and want to be law abiding citizens, but not be taken advantage of by those who choose to follow a lessor path.

Well a few years passed and I had the opportunity to make a change from the Secret Service to a Dot.Com company which provided me a somewhat more stable schedule.  I learned that WWU had approved the class that I drafted, but they had not found any qualified instructors in our community to teach it.  I spoke to my then current employer and he graciously provided the flexibility for me to begin teaching that class at WWU.  Now nearly three and a half years have passed with approximately 300 plus WWU students having completed the course.  I have to say, it is a wonderful time to see these student have the light go off in there heads and comprehend that they have more ability than they recognize.

We always end the class with a practical training scenario with a suited attacker working through various scenarios which allows the students to apply their newly found or newly awakened skills in as close to a real life situation as possible.  They fight through that situation and show that they can survive and don’t need to play the role of the victim, but can be the predator when absolutely necessary.  Of course they are taught to avoid those potentially volatile situation beforehand.  However, when you can’t a little preparation can help advert  a disastrous experience.

Now the class is among the most popularly requested in the PEHR Department.  They also have a class that I recommend to my students in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu (taught by the only genuine certified Gracie -Barra Black Belt in our area who also happens to be a retired Law Enforcement Professional and personal friend).  There are a lot of people out there who profess to do a Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, but lack the true credentials to back it up from a credible source or hide behind the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) title as an excuse for an anything I want to throw out there attitude.  The trouble is that they can teach techniques that might work in the ring or might not, but there is no room for compromise when it comes to your personal security and the safety of your loved ones.

The best thing about teaching the WWU students is getting the feed back from them of how they feel safer, more empowered, aware, and occasionally how they negotiated their way out of a situation with the verbal skill learned.  I encourage the students to continue learning and growing in their skill and abilities.  Even if they can only find the local Tae Kwon Do school that is better than nothing for they can get a good work out learn some things, but apply the Self-Defense principles that they have learned in my class as a litmus test of what works and what doesn’t when the going gets tough.  Rarely do I hear about them having to apply their physical skill on an aggressor.  The nice thing is that when I do hear back from them that they applied the techniques the training paid off, and that is success.

Happy Independence Day America!!

You may have seen the interview that we did with Grandmaster Remy Presas. While I did not think about it at the time, it is more than appropriate that prominant Philipino martial artist like Remy Presas be highlighted on our U.S. Independence Day.

The big reason is historical in nature. In essence when the Spanish occupied the Philippines they prohibited the Filipino people from possessing swords and other such weapons. That caused the arts of arnis, escrima, and kali to evolve as the people practiced their martial arts in a dance like form and preserved their warrior tactics as a cultural tradition without drawing attention from the Spanish. Of course they were able to employ their fighting skills when called upon to do so and pass those life saving methods on to the next generation. Remy Presas is one who possesses a very rich family history regarding the martial arts that developed out of the Spanish occupation.

So what does that have to do with Independence Day and celebrating the 4th of July? In this country we are blessed to do so many things that we often take for granted. For example, we have the right to bear arms, practice our martial arts freely, attend a church and worship as we believe, have families, move from state to state, attend universities, work in a profession of our choosing, and so many other great blessings that we benefit from as a whole.

For that matter, the world is a better place because of July 4th, 1776, when brave men that we revere as the “Founding Fathers” placed their names on a document known as the Declaration of Independence. Of course what happened on that day and after is history, but the freedoms that we enjoy are on going. I am grateful that we enjoy the freedoms that we do because of this great act of faith that took place so many years ago. I know that I benefit today as do people everywhere from what transpired as a result of their efforts to create a new nation that resulted in greater freedom than any country has ever enjoyed at any time.

Some may wish to criticize patriotism. However, that ability to criticize patriotism or any aspect of our government is the result of Independence day and the drafting of our nation’s U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights that followed. Independence Day set us on the path that rewarded us with so many blessings in the form of freedom.

Without Independence Day might not be able to assemble in a school like Karate Quest and share the martial arts and enjoy all of the camaraderie and friendship, fitness and many other benefits that change peoples’ lives for the better.

Happy 4th of July to all people everywhere.

Scouting and the Martial Arts

Following yesterdays entry I was considering some of the similarities between scouting and the martial arts as they are presented at Karate Quest.  Consider the following information from Spiritus Temporus.

Scout Oath:  On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law:  A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

Anyone can claim to teach values such as those outlined in the Boy Scout Oath and Law cited above.  However, I don’t believe that someone who lacks morals in their personal life is prepared to teach morals, values and principles to others.  That is why it is appropriate that a Boy Scout who is also a Karate Quest Instructor led the Cub Scouts on their introduction to the martial arts.  It shows principle centered leadership in action.

Ask yourself this question.  Can someone who lacks integrity or has demonstrated over the years that they lack integrity teach that value to other?  I think we all know the answer as this was a rhetorical question.  Many karate schools claim to teach values and Karate Quest delivers on it.  You can see it in Adam and his commitment to the values of scouting on and off the training floor.  You can see it in the distinguished leadership of the school as you look closer at the instructors’ personal lives.  The values are congruent through and throuh.

Should you come across a school where the values they claim to teach and the people teaching them don’t seem to match up, don’t be afraid to move on.  It is appropriate to know a little about an instructor’s personal life off the mat beyond what is presented in their resume of martial arts training.  If you are investing time and energy for yourself or a family member to be molded into a future leader you should know who is doing the molding.

Bottom line a good martial arts instructor should exhibit values in their daily life like an Eagle Scout.  The world would be a better place if Karate Instructors everywhere adopted the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.

To the naysayers who would think you need to put on a tough guy image to defend yourself or teach self-defense I can say that simply is not true.  Awareness and confidence have a lot more to do with avoiding and managing conflict than acting like a tough guy.

By the way, the motto of the United States Secret Service is “Worthy of Trust and Confidence.”  That agency has some of the bravest and toughest men and women on the planet.  However, they always act with dignity and follow the golden rule of treating others as they would want to be treated.  When it is necessary, they know how to do their job better than anybody, but they don’t where a tough guy attitude on their sleeve. 

By the way there are a lot of Boy Scouts in the U.S. Secret Service because they are “Worthy of Trust and Confidence.”  Maybe oneday we can meet I can be given the opportunity to win your trust and confidence.

Until then strive for Karate Quest Excellence!

CSI: Cub Scout Investigators!

Karate Quest was invited to assist with the Cub Scout Twilight Camp for the second year in a row.  The camp is held each year at Hovander Park in Ferndale, Washington and serves the Bellingham and Whatcom County area.

Adam Jolly, a fellow Boy Scout member, highly accomplished weapons competitor and a very capable Karate Quest Instructor, led the training for the young scouts.  This is a fantastic demonstration of how the leadership taught in the martial arts and scouting go hand in hand.  The 2008 theme was none other than CSI:  Cub Scout Investigators.  Adam learned to dust and lift his first set of prints when he was a Cub Scout.  Probably not a big surprise as he grew up in a law enforcement family.  However, his task was to teach some very basic self-defense to the 100 plus attendees.  That was done smoothly and efficiently and the Cubs had a great time.

The highlight was at the end of the evening when Eli Jolly performed a bo-staff demonstration that he carried out flawlessly with the back-flips, butterfly kicks and many other cool techniques thrown in.  Oh, did I tell you that Eli is a Cub Scout participating in the camp.  What’s more is that Eli recently placed third in the underblet division of the Pacific Jewel Nationals.  This was just another example of Karate Quest Excellence!

McKenna Jolly – Runner Up in Templar: Honor Among Thieves Competion

Lots of people dream big.  So few take action on those dreams.  So, when McKenna heard about a competition from  KickGen to win a chance to participate in the choreographed fight scenes of a motion picture she put something together and submit it by the March 31st deadline.  She had some stiff competition to include some world champion martial artists and her very own brother, Adam Jolly, but took a chance anyway.

The movie’s director would only select two.  One who was under 15 to play the role of a kid and another that was older to play the role of an adult attacker.  When the reviews of the competition demos were completed and selections were made she placed second in the overall younger division.  She did not get the coveted 1st place this time, but she demonstrated someone taking mass action to move toward her goal.  That is one of the great things about the martial arts mindset and how leadership is taught through action at Karate Quest.

You would never know that she only just reached twelve years old when you see her on film or leading a class full of eager karate students and future leaders.

When you see McKenna give her a big Karate Quest Excellence high five!